17th Century British Token CoinageFARTHINGS AND HALFPENNY TOKENS

Introduction

It has been estimated that about 20,000 issuers produced token coinage between 1648-1672, though only around 12,000 have been located. Declared illegal in 1672, the vast majority were melted down. Most of those remaining are very scarce.

These tokens were struck out of necessity for change. They are quite crude, but served the need at the time. Most are quite rare, as they circulated in very small areas — many times only being accepted over a few blocks in the town — and most were struck in very small quantities. As well, when the King's edict banning them was published, most were melted. They are listed by Williamson numbers, from his book on 17th century tokens.